SMS: THE SERIALS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FROM DAWSONS Available to Purchase

The preceding pages described the serials control component of a minicomputer‐based integrated library system. This article looks at another approach open to libraries namely that of automating serials on a stand alone basis, independently of the other major library management or housekeeping routines and looking towards cooperation with subscription agents. There has been a definite trend over the past 18 months for the serials subscriptions agents to develop automated services to libraries, using local software packages which communicate with the data held on the parent company's mainframe system. Blackwell's was first with its minicomputer‐based PEARL system and recently Dawsons, Faxon, and Menzies are all marketing in the UK or US microcomputer packages for serials handling.